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Welcome to ENGL 2160: American Literature Survey
For faculty: The information below is provided to help you get started. Please note
that much of the information below, especially that in green, is provided as
suggestions for you to include in your own courses. If you find anything below
helpful, feel free to copy and paste it and/or modify it as desired.
Taking This Course
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To get started in this course, go to Moodle (https://remote.lsuhsc.edu/danana/auth/url_default/welcome.cgi)
To take this course, you FIRST need to contact Dr. xxxxx at xxxxx@lsuhsc.edu. Some of you
have already spoken with Dr. xxxx, but if you have not given Dr. xxxx your email address,
you need to do so now. Your instructor will respond to email at xxxx@ xxxxx@lsuhsc.edu
within 24 hours during the week (M-R 9am-5pm). You may also call xxx-xxx-xxxx or visit at
the LSU SPH campus, 2020 Gravier Street, 3rd floor, New Orleans, LA, Room xxxxx. You
can view Dr. xxxx’s biography [insert link here]. You are encouraged to contact your
instructor when you have questions. You are always welcome to visit. You may wish to call
and make an appointment if you plan a visit--just so that the amount of time you think you'll
need will be reserved for you.
Assignments will be graded and returned within one week of the due date.
If you haven't already done so, buy your books either at the bookstore or online at various
online textbooks sellers.
Your syllabus is located under the syllabus button on this page to your left. You can also
scroll down to find it.
Your schedule is located on the Moodle course home page. You can also view it by clicking
the appropriate navigation button on the left.
Pre-Requisites
This section is provided as an example for you as a location in which you might provide prerequisite
information for your students. Pre-reqs ARE A QM STANDARD! If you don’t have any pre-requisites,
you might type in “none” or “There are no pre-requisites for this course.” The pre-req might also be
admission to the program.
Course Description
This section is provided as an example for you as a location in which you might provide the course
description (as taken from your syllabus) in the introduction to your course.
Textbooks and Materials:
Baym, Nina, Ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Shorter Seventh Edition. NY: W. W.
Norton and Company, 2008.
Access to a computer with reliable internet access and sound and video capabilities.
Access to headphones and a mic
Access to a webcam
Note: Course elements contain multimedia and may require the ability to play Flash. You may wish to
download VLC to play course elements. http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
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ADA Statement
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, LSUHSC
School of Public Health instructors must make reasonable accommodations for students who have
physical, mental, or learning disabilities. LSU SPH is committed to equal opportunity:
The LSUHSC School of Public Health assures equal opportunity for all qualified persons without regard
to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, National origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran’s
status in the admission to, participation in, or employment in its programs and activities.
Please consult the student handbook for further information, including responsibilities of students need
accommodation:
https://lsupublichealth.publishpath.com/Websites/lsupublichealth/images/pdf/Student_Handbook.pdf
Academic Policies
Students are expected to comply with all policies listed in the student handbook, including professional
standards and academic standards:
https://lsupublichealth.publishpath.com/Websites/lsupublichealth/images/pdf/Student_Handbook.pdf
Goals (remember, goals must be measurable; they must use verifiable verbs)
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At the end of the course, students should be able to name in chronological order, delineate, and
provide examples of the major movements in American literature:
Enlightenment, Transcendentalism, romanticism, regionalism and realism, Modernism, the
Harlem Renaissance, the Southern Renaissance, and postmodernism.
At the end of the course, students should be able to define each movement, name authors from
each movement, name works from each movement by the named authors, and explain how
aspects of each work reflect the movement they belong to.
Students should be able to name major themes in American literature and explain how works
from each movement reflect those themes
In addition, students should be able to name, provide examples of, and describe major themes
within transition writers and writers who fall outside the movements.
Students will demonstrate their abilities to analyze a literary work using close reading and paying
attention to the context of the work.
Students should be able to explain how events in American history shape American literature, and
how American literature reflects the multifaceted core of what it means to be American.
Skills and Other Things You Need
You will need basic computer skills. Can you find a web site if you are given a web address?
Can you send and receive an email? Can you attach files and open attachments? If you can, then
you will probably have few problems with the technology in this course. You will also need
regular access to a computer and Internet service. You can use the labs on campus if you buy a
set of headphones. Right now, write down two backup places that you will go if your preferred
email access point fails. For example, if you try to get on the internet and you find your home
access won't work, where will you go? Then, if during the class you have trouble, you can go to
your backup place. Can you go to the local library? To the local community college? To your
Aunt's house? If you have no backup places, you probably don't need to take this course. In
other words, if your internet fails, it may severely hinder your progress in this class. You will
need an email account that you check every day, and your facilitator needs that account address.
Email failures, like internet failures, can severely hinder your progress in this course.
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How the Course Works (example if you have an online course)
Writing 3140 will run on a twice weekly schedule (modules begin on Monday and Thursday). Your
course schedule, linked here, WRIT3140CourseScheduleSummer2014B.pdf, will outline reading
assignments. Your quizzes are available until each due date (consult the course schedule). You will have
until midnight on the next class date (on the course schedule--midnight before the next quiz is due) during
which to access the lecture and complete any assignments there. As you can see, you can work ahead, but
you cannot fall behind. You choose when you access the lecture within the given time frames. You will
review the lecture--this activity should take about 2 hours, including download/access time. You should
expect to spend about 12 hours per week on this course, including readings, lectures, activities, and
assignments. As mentioned before, the lecture may have an additional assignment in it, and that should be
completed by the assigned due date. It sounds complicated, but once you do it twice, you will get the
routine down. As you can see, it is at least as much work and time as a traditional course.
Look in Module 1: Online to see your video introduction to the course.
Bill's Adventures in English 2160
(a concrete sample of how an internet course might progress--this information is
provided for you as something you might provide for your students if you teach
completely online)
A concrete example of how this course works (in our course, weeks begin on Mondays and Thursdays)
Before the class begins
Bill is a student in our course. He signs in by phone or email or in person with the professor before the
course begins, and he gives her his email address. He also takes down the course information.
The first day of classes
The day classes begin, he makes sure Writing 3140 shows up on his Moodle site. He is ready to begin
the course.
Week 1, Module 1: Wednesday
Bill knows his information to get started with the course is available under Start Here in the content
section of Moodle. He reads through it. Then, he continues to move through Learning Module 1 in the
content section. He checks each item off the checklist as he completes it. However, Bill works until
5pm on Fridays, so he waits until 7pm that night and accesses the Moodle course site. He reads the
orientation under the "Start Here" button (what you're reading right now) on Moodle. He reads it and is
reminded of his assignments for next Monday. He orders his textbook. He has some questions, so he
writes them down as he reads and emails his professor with his questions. Under "Start Here," Bill finds
the course goals and objectives and student resources and other information he needs to be successful in
the course.
Week 1, Module 1: Saturday
Bill has a busy week, so he accesses the introductory materials in Learning Module 1, including the
welcome lecture, and completes the "Introduce Yourself" assignment on Saturday. He also logs in to
Learning Curve and enters his access code. The he puts a shortcut to Learning Curve on his desktop for
easy reference. He completes his schedule assignment, puts it in the dropbox, and keeps a copy to
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remind himself of his schedule and goals. He keeps a printed copy of the syllabus and his schedule with
his notebook for the class, all for quick reference. He puts the big assignment due dates on his personal
calendar to prepare for the course.
Week 1, Module 1: Sunday
He reads his assignments from the syllabus on Sunday. From the syllabus, he knows he is supposed to
read Markel, chapter 1: "Understanding the Technical Environment" and chapter 2: "Understanding
Ethical and Legal Considerations." When he completes his reading on Sunday evening, he takes his quiz
on the readings under "Learning Module 2" on Moodle. He knows he has until Monday night, but he
wants to get it done. He looks over the Learning Curve assignment. He also reviews the Assignments
information in module 1 and thinks about what his research topic might be. Although he had until
Monday night at midnight to complete module 1 and the quiz for module 2, he decided to get it all
finished early.
Week 1, Module 2: Tuesday
After work on Tuesday, Bill goes bowling. So, on Wednesday night he looks in the "Introduce Yourself"
assignment to see what his classmates have said about themselves, and he asks a classmate named Rita
about her lasagna recipe that she mentioned she was famous for. It sounds like a great recipe to have. He
then accesses Module 2 at 7pm. He took the quiz before the due date on Monday, so this visit to the
module, he listens to the lecture and writes down questions to email Dr. Powell. He finishes this work
about 8:30pm. He watches some television. He goes to bed.
Week 2, Module 2: Thursday
At 6 a.m. Thursday morning, Bill gets up and completes the assigned activities in module 2 before he
goes to work that day. He completes the self assessment and misses the question on the topic for the
class, so he listens to the lecture again and looks at the major assignment information on the syllabus. As
he thinks about his topic, he decides to look again at the "Introduce Yourself" assignment. A classmate
named Felipe is also a communications major, just as Bill is, so he asks Felipe via the VoiceThread if he
has thought of any topics regarding ethics in their shared major. Bill also takes the ethics quiz in module
2. Bill knows he needs to read chapter 3: "Writing Technical Documents," chapter 4, "Writing
Collaboratively," and chapter 20, "Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions," but only pages
581-596 of chapter 20. He gets about half the reading done and goes to work. When he gets home from
work, he finishes his reading and takes the quiz in module 3 before midnight. He also completes his
Learning Curve assignment. He will wait until Saturday to start work on module 3.
Week 2, Module 3: Saturday
On Saturday, Bill is ready to dive into Module 3. He starts at the beginning and moves through the
module, using the checklist to make sure he completes everything--and he double checks the printable
course schedule, as well, to make sure he isn't missing any assignments. You can see how important it is
to keep up with the schedule.
And so it goes . . .
The important thing to remember is stay on top of the class so that the assignments and lectures don't
crunch you. If you try to do everything an hour before it is due, you will find that assignments and
technology will get in your way.
As your professor, I will try to keep you updated every other week on points so far in the course. You can
always check your grade on Moodle. Always let your professor know if you run into difficulties.
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Course Expectations (example for you)
Students are expected to complete the online modules in a timely fashion and to keep up with the
course schedule. Attendance is monitored using Moodle. Late assignments may or may not be
accepted. If accepted, late assignments lose 10 points per day late. Day 1 of late begins after the
due date and time. View the netiquette guidelines for information regarding behavioral
expectations for online students. Plagiarism carries with it penalties, including a failing grade for
the course. Consult your student handbook for more details.
To learn more about plagiarism, view the plagiarism slideshow.
Then, take the plagiarism quiz to see how well you understand plagiarism.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Take reading quiz
on upcoming
module/reading
assignment before
noon. Spend one
hour accessing
content.
Open
module
and spend
two hours
accessing
content
Complete
activities in
module
before
midnight.
Read for
Friday face
to face
meeting
Attend face
to face
class, take
notes, and
ask
questions.
Online
Take
module
the day
comes
off.
available
midnight
on Friday.
Do
nothing.
Look at
assignments
and prepare
for Friday
face to face
meeting.
Sunday
SAMPLE SCHEDULE 2
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday Friday
Online
module
opened
Friday at
midnight.
Ignore it.
Open
module and
spend three
hours
accessing
content
Complete
activities in
module.
Read for Friday Take the
face to face
day off.
meeting. Look
in face to face
module and
prepare for
class.
Attend face
to face class,
take notes,
and ask
questions.
Saturday
Sunday
Online module Take
comes available the day
Friday at
off.
midnight. Open
module and
spend three
hours accessing
content
Complete
activities in
module.
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Grades
Grade Breakdown
PLEASE NOTE THAT ON ALL ASSIGNMENTS, MORE THAN NINE GRAMMAR OR
MECHANICAL ERRORS ON ANY ASSIGNMENT WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC F.
Instructions 5% (50 points)
Definition and Description=10% (100 points)
Midterm=10% (100 points)
Proposal=15% (150 points)
Technical Report=25% (250 points)
Final=10% (100 points)
Module Activities and Quizzes=25% (I will take all of the points you received for your quizzes
and VoiceThreads and job application materials and any other assignments that are not the
instructions, def and desc., mid term, proposal, tech report, or final, and divide the points you
received by the number of points possible. Then I will multiply the result by 250 so that the
grade you receive for this section is out of 250 points. Feel free to look at your gradebook for
assignments and their points possible. New assignments in this category may be added as the
course progresses.)
Those assignments, at this point, are as follows:
CORRECT OR SCOOPED VoiceThreads
Introduce Yourself (10)
Ethics (10)
Audience Analysis (10)
Organization (10)
Argument Games (10)
Description (10)
Writing Review (10)
Design and Graphics (10)
What Do You Think? (10)
Quizzes
1 and 2: 10
3, 4: 10
5, 6, 13: 10
8: 10
Module 8: 10
Proposal: 10
7: 10
11: 10
Informational Reports: 10
Formal Reports: 10
Writing Letters:10
Job Ap Mat: 10
Oral Pres: 10
Activities
Ethics Quiz: 10
Research Topic: 10
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Grammar and Spelling Self-Inventory 25
Grant Activity: 25
Formal Report Activity: 45
Job Ad: 10
Resume: 25
Cover Letter: 25
Total Points Possible for Module Activities and Quizzes: 395
Your gradebook function will automatically calculate your grade for you throughout the course,
although the weighting on the Homework, In Class Work, and Quizzes will be off until the end
of class.
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Additional Information
1.) Your professor will respond to email at xxxxx@lsuhsc.edu within 24 hours during the week
(M-R 9am-5pm). You may also call xxx-xxx-xxx or visit at the LSU SPH campus, 2020 Gravier
Street, 3rd floor, New Orleans, LA, Room xxxxx. You may wish to call and make an appointment if
you plan a visit--just so that the amount of time you think you'll need will be reserved for you.
2.) Assignments will be graded, and grades will be posted, within one week after the assignment
due date. If the instructor anticipates a delay in grading, you will be notified as soon as possible.
3.) Technical support is your responsibility. If a document or lecture does not open for you, let
your instructor know. Sometimes your instructor can put information in a different format that
you can access more easily. However, if the problem is on your end (your computer, your
software, your internet service), it is your responsibility to find someone on your end to help you
with the problem. You can contact the LSU SPH help desk at
http://www.lsuhsc.edu/administration/cs/helpdesk/. Your instructor is not technical support.
Again, please let your instructor know if you have any questions.
It’s a good idea, at the end of your “Start Here” material, to let students know what to do next.